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Illustration for Psalm 80: Restore the Vine

Psalm 80

Restore the Vine

When AfraidComfort

Israel is pictured as a grapevine that God planted from Egypt. But now the vine is broken down and being eaten by animals. Three times the psalm cries: 'Restore us, O God! Make Your face shine on us, that we may be saved!'

  1. 1Hear us, O Shepherd of Israel, You who lead Joseph like a flock; You who sit enthroned between the cherubim, shine forth
  2. 2before Ephraim, Benjamin and Manasseh. Awaken Your might; come and save us.
  3. 3Restore us, O God; make Your face shine upon us, that we may be saved.
  4. 4O LORD God Almighty, how long will Your anger smolder against the prayers of Your people?
  5. 5You have fed them with the bread of tears; You have made them drink tears by the bowlful.
  6. 6You have made us an object of contention to our neighbors, and our enemies mock us.
  7. 7Restore us, O God Almighty; make Your face shine upon us, that we may be saved.
  8. 8You transplanted a vine from Egypt; You drove out the nations and planted it.
  9. 9You cleared the ground for it, and it took root and filled the land.
  10. 10The mountains were covered with its shade, the mighty cedars with its branches.
  11. 11Its branches reached as far as the Sea, its shoots as far as the River.
  12. 12Why have You broken down its walls so that all who pass by pick its grapes?
  13. 13Boars from the forest ravage it and insects from the fields feed on it.
  14. 14Return to us, God Almighty! Look down from heaven and see! Watch over this vine,
  15. 15the root Your right hand has planted, the son You have raised up for Yourself.
  16. 16Your vine is cut down, it is burned with fire; at Your rebuke Your people perish.
  17. 17Let Your hand rest on the man at Your right hand, the son of man You have raised up for Yourself.
  18. 18Then we will not turn away from You; revive us, and we will call on Your name.
  19. 19Restore us, LORD God Almighty; make Your face shine on us, that we may be saved.

What it means

God's people are pictured as a grapevine that He planted Himself and now looks broken and trampled. Three times they pray the same short prayer: restore us. It is fine to pray the same thing again and again. God does not get tired of hearing you.

A little prayer

God, some things in my life feel broken down. Restore me, and let Your face shine on me. Thank You that You planted me and You do not give up on what You plant. Amen.

Memory verse

“Restore us, O God; make Your face shine upon us, that we may be saved.”

Psalm 80:3 (BSB)

The refrain of the psalm — the same request, worn smooth by repetition.

Talk about it

Questions with no single right answer — for a family table or a Sunday-school circle.

  1. Israel is pictured as a vine that God planted and then its wall came down. What happens to a garden with no fence?
  2. The psalm asks three times for God to make His face shine on them. Why keep asking the same thing?
  3. It calls God the Shepherd of Israel. What is the difference between a gardener and a shepherd?
  4. What in your life needs tending rather than fixing?

Try this

The unfenced garden

Look at a plant that needs something — water, light, a bigger pot. Give it that one thing. Talk about how slowly plants show they are cared for.

You will need: A houseplant.

Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible (BSB)